Marilyn Trainer Dechert returned to her alma mater at the age of 69 to serve as Head Coach of the Women’s Golf team, a position she held from 2002-2014. Under her leadership, the Big Blue produced three NCAA Tournament qualifiers and boasted 15 CCIW All-Conference players. Dechert’s exceptional guidance and dedication to her athletes earned her CCIW Coach of the Year honors in 2014, capping a remarkable coaching career.
A devoted mentor, Dechert nurtured the success of many athletes, including Diane Imburgia Scearce ’04, one of last year’s Athletic Hall of Fame inductees. In tribute to Dechert’s profound impact, Millikin’s home Women’s Golf tournament is named in her honor, creating a legacy that will impact generations of student-athletes.
Though coaching was the centerpiece of her career, Dechert’s personal accomplishments as a golfer were likewise remarkable. She competed for Millikin in 1951-52, winning the consolation championship at the National Collegiate Championships, and over her lifetime claimed nine Women’s Open titles and five Senior Women’s open titles. Dechert also earned a second-place finish at the Illinois Women’s Golf Association Senior Women’s Amateur Championship in 1988 and was inducted into the Illinois Women’s Golf Association Hall of Fame in 2015. Together with her husband, Dick ’54, she was bestowed with Millikin’s Merit-Loyalty award in 2021.
Dechert, who passed away in 2022, crafted a coaching career that was defined by dedication, mentorship and a lifelong passion for golf. Her leadership transformed the Big Blue, leaving a legacy of excellence, sportsmanship and inspiration. Dechert’s husband, Dick, lives in Decatur.
